Sink clamp

ABSTRACT

A sink clamp is described formed on a single piece of channeled metal. A hook portion is punched out of the upper portion of the generally L-shaped clamp, the engagement with conventional sink clips and the upper load bearing portion of the clamp which engages with the clip is stiffened in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the attaching screw so as to reduce load concentration by distributing the load over a large surface.

United States Patent 1 1 Hoffman 51 Jan. 16,1973

154! SlNK CLAMP [76] Inventor: Ralph Hoffman, 512 West Pine,

Fairbury, 111. 61739 22 Filed: Nov.2,1971

211 Appl.No.: 194,857

[52] US. Cl. ..3l2/l40.4 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 96/18 [58] Field of Search ..312/l40.4; 248/226 R, 229;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,011,849 12/1961 Bishop ..3l2/l40.4

3,013,851 12/1961 Maron 312/1404 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Hyman Berman et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SINK CLAMP This invention generally relates to clamping means for appliances which are mounted in recesses in kitchen countertops and more particularly relates to a new and improved clamp for mounting a sink in such a countertop.

[t has been found that existing clamps for mounting kitchen sinks within countertops in recesses provided for that purpose, have suffered from one or more serious deficiencies. For example, it has been found that when tightening such prior art clamps, pads or other protective means have been required in order to prevent damage to the porcelain or enamel surface resulting from the intense concentration of forces at the point where the clamp is attached to the sink. Further, it has been found that prior art clamps do not have sufficient structural strength to pull the sink down flat against the countertop due to the wide variety in shapes and contours of the ends and sides of the sink where the clamping action occurs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sink clamp which will overcome the deficiencies in the prior art clamp.

It is a further and more specific object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sink clamp which is structurally strong yet constructed in such a way that no damage to the surface of the sink will result from the clamping action.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sink clamp which is simple and economical to manufacture but which at the same time is structurally superior to existing sink clamps.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the clamp of the present invention assembled in clamping position with a sink and countertop',

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the component parts of the clamp of the present invention, in disassembled form; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the clamp of the present invention taken through line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

Turning now to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the clamp of the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral 14 is shown in assembled form clamping sink to countertop 11. As is well known in the art, sink 10 is generally provided with lip portion 12 for engaging countertop ll. Conventially mounted on the underside of lip 12 is substantially L-shaped clip 13 having a first horizontal portion lying substantially flat along the underside of lip 12 and at substantially right angles to the underside of lip 12, a depending hook-like portion. When clamp 14 is engaged with clip 13 and bolt 21 is threadedly passed through aperture in horizontal portion 18 of clamp 14, the clamp performs the function of tightening and securing lip 12 of sink [0 against countertop 1 1.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clamp of the present invention may be preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal having bent edges 19 to give the clamp a channeled configuration. This channeled configuration is one unique advantage of the present invention, in that it simply and economically provides a structure to resist the bending loads encountered during the tightening operation. Stamped or pressed out of the upper portion 17 of the clamp is hook member 16, which as shown in FIG. I engages the depending hook portion of sink clip 13. Formed at the upper end of portion 17 is curved portion 15 of substantial radius which is stiffened in a plane perpendicular to the axis of bolt 21. The unique configuration of curved portion 15 thus insures that the load bearing on the under surface of sink lip 12 is distributed over a large area. Consequently, chipping of porcelain enameled surfaces or marring of thin-gage metal sink surfaces, as was common in the prior art clamp, will be prevented.

There has thus been described a new and improved clamp for attaching sinks, or other similarly mounted appliances, to countertops or the like. The present invention will perform its intended function without auxiliary apparatus, pads or other separate components which have been found to be necessary with existing sink clamps. Further since the bolt member tightens against the underside of the countertop which is usually formed from wood or a composite board material, no undesirable chipping or marring occurs from the tightening action of the bolt itself. The present invention readily adapts itself to a wide range of countertop thicknesses and by simply changing the location of hook member 16, by a readily performed adjustment of the stamping or punching die, the clamp of the present invention may be made to accommodate sink clips 13 of a wide variety of sizes.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it should be realized that variations therein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore intended that the scope of the present invention be only limited by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

I. An improved appliance clamping device for attaching an appliance having at least one substantially L-shaped clip on the underside of a lip thereof, to a rigid horizontal member having an upper and a lower surface, comprising: a unitary substantially L-shaped member having an aperture in a first leg thereof, and a hook member in a second leg thereof, said second leg having a curved upper surface of substantial radius for engagement with the leg of said L-shaped clip abutting the underside of said lip and said hook portion engaging the other leg of said L-shaped clip which is at right angles to said underside of said lip; so that when a threaded member is inserted in said aperture and tightened against the lower surface of said horizontal member said lip will forcefully be brought into engagement with the upper surface of said horizontal member.

2. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross section of said unitary substantially L-shaped member is substantially U-shaped.

3. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 1 wherein said hook member is formed from a portion of the second leg of said unitary substantially L-shaped member.

4. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 3 wherein the cross section of said unitary substantially 

1. An improved appliance clamping device for attaching an appliance having at least one substantially L-shaped clip on the underside of a lip thereof, to a rigid horizontal member having an upper and a lower surface, comprising: a unitary substantially L-shaped member having an aperture in a first leg thereof, and a hook member in a second leg thereof, said second leg having a curved upper surface of substantial radius for engagement with the leg of said L-shaped clip abutting the underside of said lip and said hook portion engaging the other leg of said L-shaped clip which is at right angles to said underside of said lip; so that when a threaded member is inserted in said aperture and tightened against the lower surface of said horizontal member said lip will forcefully be brought into engagement with the upper surface of said horizontal member.
 2. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross section of said unitary substantially L-shaped member is substantially U-shaped.
 3. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 1 wherein said hook member is formed from a portion of the second leg of said unitary substantially L-shaped member.
 4. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 3 wherein the cross section of said unitary substantially L-shaped member is substantially U-shaped.
 5. The improved clamping device set forth in claim 4 wherein said aperture is threaded. 